System and method for secure self registration with an insurance portal

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing a first-time registration request for electronic access to a plurality of computerized insurance services. A network interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services by interfacing with a plurality of disparate information platforms and communicating with a user computing device. A memory stores a portal module, a profile module, and a security module, each in the form of computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the system to receive a user identity, a first-time registration request of the user identity, and one or more secure information items associated with the user identity from the user computing device, determine a verification score for the user identity based on the one or more secure information items, and selectively register the user identity with a plurality of the computerized insurance services based on the verification score.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention relates to systems and methods forcomputerized user self-registration, authentication, and authorizationfor access to a number of computerized services offered by an insurancecompany.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insurance companies provide a range of services to their customers. Forexample, an insurance company may offer workers' compensation insurance,property insurance, life insurance, vehicle insurance, and/or businessinsurance services to their customers. Further, insurance companiesoften offer related services, for example, mutual fund, annuity, collegesavings plan, and/or retirement plan services. Customers access andinteract with these insurance services by accessing Internet websitesand/or other electronic network resources maintained by the insurancecompany. For example, a user may change a level of coverage, deposit orwithdraw funds, and/or change beneficiary information for a giveninsurance service using a website maintained by the insurance companyfor that service.

An insurance company may maintain substantial network resources (e.g.,servers, databases, and information repositories) to provide customerswith electronic access to these insurance services. However, theresources for different insurance services are typically located ondifferent computing systems that may additionally operate on differentinformation platforms. As a result, there is typically little or noinformation exchange among the individual computerized insuranceservices offered by an insurance company. The fragmented and disparatestructure of typical insurance networks creates many inconveniences forinsurance companies and their customers.

Typically, a customer's interactions with the insurance company arefragmented. For example, a user's online preferences and settings (e.g.,with respect to a preferred mailing addresses, mode of contact,beneficiaries, and/or bank account information) enacted through onecomputerized insurance service are not readily available when the useruses another computerized insurance service of the same insurancecompany. Similarly, a user may be required to register separately foreach insurance service and reenter his or her online preferences andsettings for each service. The lack of a global profile managementframework across all of the computerized insurance services offered byan insurance company inconveniences both the insurance company and itscustomers.

Further, it is difficult for the insurance company to maintain securityacross all of its insurance services. For example, actions that areindicative of fraud or trusted behavior with respect to a user'sinteractions with one computerized insurance service are notautomatically shared with the other computerized insurance servicesoffered by the company. For example, a user may act to increase securitywith respect to one of the computerized insurance services (e.g., bycreating highly secure login credentials) in a manner that is notrecognized by the other computerized insurance services. Similarly,activities that are indicative of fraud (e.g., multiple failed loginattempts or access from a suspect IP address) that occur in relation toone computerized insurance service may not be recognized by the othercomputerized insurance services offered by the company. The lack of aglobal security framework for registration, authentication, andauthorization across all of the computerized insurance services offeredby an insurance company inconveniences both the insurance company andits customers.

SUMMARY

Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods to integrate thesubstantial networking and computing resources used by an insurancecompany to provide the range of insurance services described above.Specifically, there is a need to integrate security information and userprofile information so that pertinent data is shared between all theinsurance services in an automated, timely, and minimally intrusivemanner. Further, there is a need to dynamically and globally updatesecurity information and user profile information based on user andnon-user interactions that occur with respect to individual insuranceservices. By integrating networking and computing resources for therange of insurance services, an insurance company may provide moresecure and accurate self-registration of a user of an insurance system,more secure and accurate authentication and authorization of userrequested activities with the insurance system, and a simpler and moreflexible interface from which a user can select preferences and othersettings for the user's interactions with the insurance system.

Accordingly, systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing afirst-time registration request for electronic access to a plurality ofcomputerized insurance services operating on a plurality of disparateinformation platforms. The system includes a processor, a networkinterface, and a memory. The network interface is configured tocommunicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services byinterfacing with the plurality of disparate information platforms andcommunicating with a user computing device. The memory stores a portalmodule, a profile module, and a security module, each in the form ofcomputer executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor,cause the system to receive a user identity, a first-time registrationrequest of the user identity, and one or more secure information itemsassociated with the user identity from the user computing device,determine a verification score for the user identity based on the one ormore secure information items, and selectively register the useridentity with a plurality of the computerized insurance services basedon the verification score.

In some embodiments, the role associated with the user identity is aninsurance-related role selected from a personal role, a claimant role, abeneficiary role, an agent role, and a business role. Further, in someembodiments, the computer executable instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to store, in the memory, at leastone document delivery preference for each associated with the useridentity in relation to each of the computerized insurance services towhich the user identity is registered. Additionally, in someembodiments, the at least one document delivery preference comprises adocument delivery preference for monthly statements and a documentdelivery preference for a prospectus. In some embodiments, the documentdelivery preference is selected from e-mail delivery, paper delivery,and fax delivery. In some embodiments, the plurality of computerizedinsurance services comprises at least one non-property insurance serviceselected from a 401(k) retirement service and an annuity investmentservice.

In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions, when executedby the processor, further cause the processor to store, in the memory,the user identity, at least one role associated with the user identityin relation to each of the computerized insurance services to which theuser identity is registered, the verification score, and anauthentication score, the authentication score based, at least in part,on the verification score. Further, in some embodiments, the first timeregistration request of the user identity is automatically routed to thesecurity module in response to a user attempt to login directly to oneof the plurality of computerized insurance services using a legacy loginaccount. Additionally, in some embodiments, the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to prompt a user of the user computing device to provide theone or more secure information items after the system receives the useridentity and the first-time registration request.

In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions, when executedby the processor, further cause the processor to determine a type ofsecure information for each of the one or more secure information itemsbased on information related to the user identity retrieved from one ormore of the plurality of computerized insurance services. Further,process may additionally generate a request for the one or more secureinformation items according to the determined secure information typesand/or generate a request for the one or more secure information itemsaccording to the determined secure information types.

In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions, when executedby the processor, further cause the processor to register the useridentity only if the verification score exceeds a threshold value, wherethe registration of the user identity includes establishing one or moresecurity credentials for the user identity, and store the one or moresecurity credentials, once established, in a credentials databaseaccessible by the security module. Further, in some embodiments, thecomputer executable instructions, when executed by the processor,further cause the processor to determine a security credential typeprior to establishing the security credential, where the type isdetermined based, at least in part, on the verification score.Additionally, in some embodiments, the computer executable instructions,when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to establishone or more security credentials for the user identity, at least inpart, by providing a credential generation tool to a user associatedwith the user identity.

In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions, when executedby the processor, further cause the processor to determine, via arequest sent from the user profile module to at least some of theplurality of computerized insurance services, if one or more legacyaccounts exist associated with the user identity, and merge or link, viathe user profile module, the determined one or more legacy accounts withthe user identity prior to storing the user identity in the user profilemodule. Further, in some embodiments, at least one of the plurality ofcomputerized insurance services is implemented on a legacy informationplatform that is directly accessible by entering a correspondingInternet address into a web browser, and at least one of the pluralityof computerized information services is implemented on a moderninformation platform and is accessible only through the portal module.

In some embodiments, the portal module is communicatively coupled to aplurality of Internet websites, wherein each of the Internet websitesprovides access to one of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices. Further, in some embodiments, the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to identify, via the portal module, instructions received froma computerized insurance service that is maintained on a legacyinformation platform, translate, via the portal module, the receivedinstructions into instructions recognized by a modern informationplatform on which the portal module is run, and generate, via the portalmodule, graphics instructions for display of a website to a userassociated with the user identity based on the translated instructions.

In some embodiments, the user identity, once registered, is recognizedby each of the plurality of computerized insurance services, and theuser identity is only entered a single time during a user activitysession to provide access at least two of the plurality of computerizedinsurance services. Further, in some embodiments, the user identity,once registered, is recognized by each of the plurality of computerizedinsurance services, and the computer executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the processor to generateinstructions for pre-populating at least one data field in one of theplurality of computerized insurance services based on information storedin the user profile module associated with the user identity.

Further, systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing afirst-time registration request for electronic access to a plurality ofcomputerized insurance services operating on a plurality of disparateinformation platforms. The system includes a processor, networkinterface, and a memory. The network interface is configured tocommunicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services byinterfacing with the plurality of disparate information platforms, andcommunicate with a user computing device located remotely to the systemand the plurality of computerized insurance services. The memory storesa portal module, a profile module, and a security module, each in theform of computer executable instructions, which, when executed by theprocessor, cause the system to receive a first-time registration requestof a user identity and, in response to the first-time registrationrequest, create a global user account for the user identity, establishone or more security credentials for the global user account, merge orlink a legacy user account for one of the plurality of computerizedinsurance services with the global user account, and determine aplurality of insurance-related roles for the user identity in relationto each of one or more computerized insurance services associated withthe global user account.

In some embodiments, the plurality of insurance-related roles aredetermined automatically, without further user input, by sendingqueries, via execution of the profile module by the processor, forlegacy account information to at least some of the plurality ofcomputerized insurance services. Further, in some embodiments, theplurality of insurance-related roles includes at least one role selectedfrom a personal role, a claimant role, a beneficiary role, an agentrole, and a business role. Additionally, in some embodiments, thecomputer executable instructions, when executed by the processor,further cause the processor to establish at least one securitycredential for the global user account by importing the securitycredential from either one of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices or from a trusted third-party business affiliate, wherein theimported security credential has been previously established by theuser. In some embodiments, the plurality of computerized insuranceservices comprises at least one non-property insurance service selectedfrom the group consisting of a 401(k) retirement service and an annuityinvestment service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing discussion will be understood more readily from thefollowing detailed description of the invention with reference to thefollowing drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for performing userself-registration, authentication, and authorization to govern access toa number of computerized insurance services according to an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing device used for carrying out atleast some of the business logic processing described in relation toFIG. 1 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a graphical user interface for accessingcomputerized insurance services through an integrated insurance portalaccording to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a graphical user interface for securelysetting and modifying document delivery preferences according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an architectural diagram of an implementation of theintegrated system servers depicted in FIG. 1 according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for the self-registration of a user ofan integrated insurance system according to an illustrative embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method showing further details for theself-registration of a user of an integrated insurance system accordingto an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method used by an integrated insurance systemto selectively grant access to features of computerized insuranceservices based on access rights according to an illustrative embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method used by a security module to track anauthentication score for a user identity over time based on user andnon-user interactions with an integrated insurance system.

FIG. 10 depicts illustrative data structures for storing profile,security, and other information for user accounts according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

To provide an overall understanding of the invention, certainillustrative embodiments will now be described, including systems andmethods for computerized user self-registration, authentication, andauthorization for access to a number of computerized services offered byan insurance company. However, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill that the systems and methods described herein may be adapted andmodified as is appropriate for the application being addressed and thatthe systems and methods described herein may be employed in othersuitable applications, and that such other additions and modificationswill not depart from the scope thereof.

The disclosure that follows describes, inter alia, techniques forregistering a user for a global account to access a plurality ofcomputerized insurance services. In particular, the disclosure relatesto systems and methods for obtaining secure information items from auser and selectively registering the user based on a verification scoreassociated with the secure information items. The user may be given theoption to select from different self-registration procedures based on adesired type of access to the computerized insurance services.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for performing userself-registration, authentication, and authorization to govern access toa number of computerized insurance services according to an illustrativeembodiment of the invention. The system 100 includes an integratedinsurance system 108 maintained by an insurance company. The integratedinsurance system 108 includes a front-end computing system 109,computerized insurance services 102, and an internal informationrepository 104. These computing devices are connected by a local areanetwork 124.

The front-end computing system 109 is an intermediary between customersof the insurance company and the computerized insurance services 102.The computerized insurance services 102 represents a plurality ofseparately maintained electronic insurance services. At least some ofthe individual services of the computerized insurance services 102 aremaintained on separate computing systems (e.g., servers, databases, andinformation repositories) that operate on different, and generallyincompatible, information platforms. Further, the various computerizedinsurance services of the computerized insurance services 102 may belocated in the same information center (e.g., data processing facility)or may be spread out across multiple geographically separate informationcenters.

The computerized insurance services 102 may include, for example andwithout limitation, some or all of health insurance, fire insurance,life insurance, vehicle insurance, business insurance, mutual fund,annuity, college savings plan, and retirement plan services. Despite thefragmented nature of the individual insurance services included in thecomputerized insurance services 102, the integrated insurance system 108provides a single integrated experience to customers of the insurancecompany by logically treating the computerized insurance services 102 as“back-end” services and arbitrating access to the back-end servicesusing the front-end computing system 109.

To do so, the front-end computing system 109 allows customers of theinsurance company to securely self-register for a single global networkaccount (i.e., user-identity). The front-end computing system 109 thenmonitors and governs the user's subsequent access to each ofcomputerized insurance services 102 for which the user has accessrights. In some embodiments, new customers are required to self-registerfor this global user identity in place of creating specific accounts forthe individual computerized insurance services 102. In some embodiments,users having existing “legacy” accounts for some or all of thecomputerized insurance services 102 are requested or required to mergethose accounts into a new global account based on a global useridentity. In some embodiments, the computerized insurance services 102includes at least one insurance service that is implemented on a legacyinformation platform that is directly accessible by entering acorresponding Internet address into a web browser and at least oneinsurance service that is accessible only through a global portalavailable to those who have registered for a global user identity.

Once registered for a global account, customers may manage security andprofile preferences and settings through a single global user interfaceprovided by the integrated insurance system 108. Changes made throughthe global interface are automatically effective for each of the othercomputerized insurance services of the computerized insurance services102, so that preferences and settings are uniform across all of thecomputerized insurance services used by a given customer.

Further, the front-end computing system 109 manages self-registration,authentication, and authorization functions across all of thecomputerized insurance services 102. The front-end computing system 109also maintains global information on user profiles (e.g., with respectto a preferred mailing addresses, mode of contact, beneficiaries, and/orbank account information) and roles associated with the user profiles.

The front-end computing system 109 also monitors and detects actionsthat are indicative of fraud or trusted behavior that occur in relationto a user's identity with one of the computerized insurance services 102and applies this information globally to the other computerizedinsurance services. For example, a user may take action to increase hissecurity level with respective to one computerized insurance service(e.g., by providing a biometric identifier or creating highly securelogin credentials). As another example, events may occur that areindicative of fraud (e.g., repeated failed login attempts or access froma new IP address) with respect to one of the computerized insuranceservices 102. In both cases, the front-end computing system 109 collectsthis information and applies it globally to modify a temporary and/orlonger term trust level associated with the user identity (i.e., in theform of an authentication score, as will be described subsequently). Thefront-end computing service may automatically query the individualcomputerized insurance services 102 to collect this information.Additionally or alternatively, the individual computerized insuranceservices 102 may automatically, without being queried, send data to thefront-end computing system to provide this information.

To perform these and other functions, the front-end computing system 109includes a plurality of integrated system servers 112, a networkinterface 114, an insurance company database 116, a processing unit 120,and company terminals 122. The front-end computing system 109 is alsocommunicatively coupled to an internal information repository 104. Thesecomputing devices are connected by the local area network 124.

The network interface 114 is responsible for receiving user accessrequests related to the computerized insurance services 102 anddistributing the requests among the integrated system servers 112. Theintegrated system servers 112 receive data from the network interface114 and manage the data to provide integrative functionality asdescribed above. To do so, the integrated system servers 112 executecomputer executable instructions for a user profile module, a securitymodule, and a portal module using one or more processors, as will befurther described subsequently.

The insurance company database 116 stores information related toregistered users of the front-end computing system 109. For each useridentity registered with the front-end computing system 109, thedatabase 116 may store, for example and without limitation, securityinformation including an authentication score for each of a plurality ofroles associated with the user identity, security credentials previouslyestablished for the user identity, and historical interactions of theuser identity with the front-end computing system 109 and thecomputerized insurance services 102. Further, for each user identityregistered with the front-end computing system 109, the database 116 maystore, for example and without limitation, user profile informationincluding document delivery preferences, contact preferences,beneficiary information, and policy information for the user identity.Further details on the implementation of the database 116, in accordancewith some embodiments, are further discussed in relation to FIG. 10. Insome embodiments, the database 116 is not located within the front-endcomputing system 109, but instead, is communicatively connected to thefront-end computing system 109 via the communications network 150. Inthis case, appropriate security controls (e.g., secure http connections)are used to ensure that data stored in the database 116 is not retrievedor otherwise obtained by unintended parties.

The processing unit 120 executes computer executable instructions tosupport the user self-registration, authentication, and authorizationfunctions of the front-end computing system 109. The processing unit 120includes one or more processors. For example, the processing unit 120may include an authentication score processor for determining andupdating an authentication score associated with a given user identityand role from data obtained from the database 116, the integrated systemservers 112, and/or from an internal information repository 104. Theprocessing unit 120 also includes an access rights processor thatdetermines access rights (e.g., read and write access rights) for a useridentity to a given one of the computerized insurance services 102(based on, among other things, an authentication score). An exemplaryimplementation of a computing device for use in the front-end computingsystem 109 is discussed in greater detail in relation to FIG. 2.

The company terminals 122 allow insurance company employees to interactwith the integrated insurance system 108 through various user interfacesdisplayed on the company terminals 122. The interfaces include, forexample and without limitation, interfaces to review and manually adjustuser profile data, security data, historical user transaction data, andto retrieve data related to insurance policies. The interfaces may beintegrated into one or more websites for managing the integratedinsurance system 108 or they may be integrated into thin or thicksoftware clients or stand alone software. The company terminals 122 canbe any computing devices suitable for carrying out the processesdescribed above, including personal computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers, smartphones, servers, and other computing devices. In someembodiments, different insurance company employees may be givendifferent access privileges. For example, marketing employees may onlybe able to retrieve information on insurance policies but not to makeany changes to insurance policy data.

The front-end computing system 109 may obtain information from one ormore public or private databases in order to perform self-registration,authentication, authorization, and other related functions. For example,the front-end computing system 109 may compare data provided by a userduring a self-registration process to information available from publicor private record databases (e.g., driving records, tax records,criminal records, and financial records). Similarly, the front-endcomputing system 109 may connect to one or more public or privatedatabases to generate challenge questions or access remotely generatedsecurity credentials such as RSA or Captcha™ credentials.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, the front-end computing system 109 isconnected to private database, i.e., the internal information repository104, that is maintained by the insurance company. The internalinformation repository 104 may store past insurance claim informationfor a user of the integrated insurance system 109, and some of thisinformation may be used to establish one or more security credentialsfor the user. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the front-end computingsystem 109 is also connected to external databases 121. The externaldatabases 121 generally include both public and private (e.g.,subscription-based) databases. The physical locations of the individualdatabases of the external databases 121 may span a wide geographic area.

User computing devices 130 and 132 provide various user interfaces forcustomers to interact with the integrated insurance system 108 over thecommunications network 150. Current and potential customers interactwith the user computing devices 130 and 132 to access the features ofthe computerized insurance services 102. For example, a user may use theuser computing device 130 to view and/or modify information related to alife insurance policy, register for new insurance services, or mergeexisting legacy insurance accounts. A user may use user computing device130 to authenticate themselves to the integrated insurance system 108,either on a temporary or permanent basis, or to perform any othersuitable insurance function as described in the disclosure herein.

The data exchange between the front-end computing system 109 and theother computing devices and systems in FIG. 1 can occur using push andpull technologies where the integrated system servers 112 of theintegrated insurance system 108 can act as both a server and client. Insome embodiments, the integrated system servers 112 can request toreceive periodic data feeds from the computerized insurance services102, company terminals 122, the internal information repository 104,and/or user computing devices 130 and 132. The communication between theintegrated system servers 112 and the other computing devices and systemin FIG. 1 can follow various known communication protocols, such asTCP/IP, cellular protocols including GSM, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, or otherwireless communications technologies or combination of wired or wirelesschannels.

In general, data exchanges between the front-end computing system 109and the individual computerized insurance services of the computerizedinsurance services 102 may be initiated by either the front-endcomputing system 109 or the individual computerized insurance services.Further, in cases where the front-end computing system 109 uses adifferent instruction set compared to the computerized insurance serviceto which it is communicating, instructions may be translated by thetransmitting party (i.e., either of the front-end computing system 109or the computerized insurance service) into a format easilyinterpretable by the receiving party. For example, instructions may betranslated using an application programming interface (API).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing device 200 used for carryingout at least some of the business logic processing described in relationto FIG. 1 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. Thecomputing device 200 comprises at least one network interface unit 204,an input/output controller 206, system memory 208, and one or more datastorage devices 214. The system memory 208 includes at least one randomaccess memory (RAM) 210 and at least one read-only memory (ROM) 212. Allof these elements are in communication with a central processing unit(CPU) 202 to facilitate the operation of the computing device 200. Thecomputing device 200 may be configured in many different ways. Forexample, the computing device 200 may be a conventional standalonecomputer or alternatively, the functions of computing device 200 may bedistributed across multiple computer systems and architectures. Thecomputing device 200 may be configured to perform some or all of thebusiness logic processing described above in relation to FIG. 1, orthese functions may be distributed across multiple computer systems andarchitectures. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the computing device200 is linked, via communications network 150 or local area network 124to other servers or systems housed by the integrated insurance system108, such as the network interface 114, and the integrated systemservers 112. The computing device 200 interfaces with third parties 224through the communications network 150. Third parties 224 may includeone or both of user computing devices 130 and 132.

The computing device 200 may be configured in a distributedarchitecture, where databases and processors are housed in separateunits or locations. The computing device 200 may also be implemented asa server located either on site at an insurance company or external tothe insurance company. Some such units perform primary processingfunctions and contain at a minimum a general controller or a processor202 and a system memory 208. In such an embodiment, each of these unitsis attached via the network interface unit 204 to a communications hubor port (not shown) that serves as a primary communication link withother servers, client or user computers and other related devices. Thecommunications hub or port may have minimal processing capabilityitself, serving primarily as a communications router. A variety ofcommunications protocols may be part of the system, including, but notlimited to: Ethernet, SAP, SAS™, ATP, BLUETOOTH™, GSM and TCP/IP.

The CPU 202 comprises a processor, such as one or more conventionalmicroprocessors, and one or more supplementary co-processors, such asmath co-processors, for offloading workload from the CPU 202. The CPU202 is in communication with the network interface unit 204 and theinput/output controller 206, through which the CPU 202 communicates withother devices such as other servers, user terminals, or devices. Thenetwork interface unit 204 and/or the input/output controller 206 mayinclude multiple communication channels for simultaneous communicationwith, for example, other processors, servers or client terminals.Devices in communication with each other need not be continuallytransmitting to each other. On the contrary, such devices need onlytransmit to each other as necessary, may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time, and may require several steps to beperformed to establish a communication link between the devices.

The CPU 202 is also in communication with the data storage device 214.The data storage device 214 may comprise an appropriate combination ofmagnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, forexample, RAM, ROM, flash drive, an optical disc such as a compact discand/or a hard disk or drive. The CPU 202 and the data storage device 214each may be, for example, located entirely within a single computer orother computing device; or connected to each other by a communicationmedium, such as a USB port, serial port cable, a coaxial cable, anEthernet type cable, a telephone line, a radio frequency transceiver orother similar wireless or wired medium or combination of the foregoing.For example, the CPU 202 may be connected to the data storage device 214via the network interface unit 204.

The CPU 202 may be configured to perform one or more particularprocessing functions. For example, the computing device 200 may beconfigured for calculating an authentication score associated with auser identity and role. The same computing device 200 or another similarcomputing device may be configured for comparing an authentication scoreto a threshold authentication value. The same computing device 200 oranother similar computing device may be configured for self-registeringa user for a global user identity on the front-end computing system 109.

The data storage device 214 may store, for example, (i) an operatingsystem 216 for the computing device 200; (ii) one or more applications218 (e.g., computer program code and/or a computer program product)adapted to direct the CPU 202 in accordance with the present invention,and particularly in accordance with the processes described in detailwith regard to the CPU 202; and/or (iii) database(s) 220 adapted tostore information that may be utilized to store information required bythe program. The database(s) 220 may include all or a subset of datastored in insurance company database 116 as well as additional data,such as formulas or manual adjustments.

The operating system 216 and/or applications 218 may be stored, forexample, in a compressed, an uncompiled and/or an encrypted format, andmay include computer program code. The instructions of the program maybe read into a main memory of the processor from a computer-readablemedium other than the data storage device 214, such as from the ROM 212or from the RAM 210. While execution of sequences of instructions in theprogram causes the CPU 202 to perform the process steps describedherein, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combinationwith, software instructions for implementation of the processes of thepresent invention.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to anynon-transitory medium that provides or participates in providinginstructions to the processor of the computing device (or any otherprocessor of a device described herein) for execution. Such a medium maytake many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media andvolatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical,magnetic, or opto-magnetic disks, or integrated circuit memory, such asflash memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory(DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM orEEPROM (electronically erasable programmable read-only memory), aFLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any othernon-transitory medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the CPU 202 (or anyother processor of a device described herein) for execution. Forexample, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of aremote computer (not shown). The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over anEthernet connection, cable line, or even telephone line using a modem. Acommunications device local to a computing device (e.g., a server) canreceive the data on the respective communications line and place thedata on a system bus for the processor. The system bus carries the datato main memory, from which the processor retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by main memory may optionally bestored in memory either before or after execution by the processor. Inaddition, instructions may be received via a communication port aselectrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, which are exemplaryforms of wireless communications or data streams that carry varioustypes of information.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a graphical user interface 300 foraccessing computerized insurance services through an integratedinsurance portal. The graphical user interface 300 is used by currentand prospective customers of the insurance company to interact withcomputerized insurance services 102. The graphical user interface may bepresented to users on a display of a suitable display device, e.g., onthe display of user computing device 130 or user computing device 132.The graphical user interface 300 is accessible from personal computingdevices, including desktop computers, laptop computers, netbooks, tabletcomputers, and smartphones. In some embodiments, the web application canbe a stand alone application (i.e., an “app”) for a smartphone or tabletcomputer. Alternatively, the web application may be providedsubstantially in real-time by front-end computing system 109 to anaccessing device. In some embodiments, the particular layout andconfiguration of the graphical user interface 300 changes based onproperties of an accessing device. For example, layout dimensions andfunctionality may vary based on an operating system or model typeassociated with the accessing device.

In some embodiments, a user must supply one or more previouslyestablished security credentials to access personal information from thegraphical user interface 300. Specifically, a user accesses thegraphical user interface 300 by entering a website address into addressbar 315 of a web browser to be presented with a generic version of thegraphical user interface 300 that includes box 305, but not any personalinformation. A personalized version of the graphical user interface 300is displayed after the user provides a user identity and correctlysupplies one or more security credentials.

In some embodiments, a user enters a username and password to login, asillustrated by dialog box 311 of FIG. 3. In some embodiments, a user mayenter a user name and then be presented with the option to enter some orall of a set of previously established security credentials, which mayinclude a password, to login. In some embodiments, the front-endcomputing system 109 selects a subset of previously established securitycredentials and queries the user to enter information related to theselected security credentials. For example, a user may login by enteringa user identity and an access code obtained from a RSA dongle providedto the user by the insurance company per a previously completedself-registration process. A user's subsequent access to particularfeatures of the integrated insurance system 108 may be limited orrestricted based on the method used to login as well as on a storedauthentication score of the user, as will be explained in the subsequentdisclosure.

The graphical user interface 300 provides a single integrated insuranceportal that a user may use to access any of the computerized insuranceservices 102. However, in some embodiments, a user may login directly toan individual one of the computerized insurance services (e.g., througha legacy Internet address) and be redirected, either automatically orafter agreement, to the graphical user interface 300. Once redirected,the user may be prompted to enter login credentials in box 305 orconvert existing login credentials for the individual one of thecomputerized insurance services into a global user identity. This wouldbe the case if an insurance company is gradually transitioning from anetwork architecture in which users directly access each of thecomputerized insurance services 102 to a system where access tocomputerized insurance service 102 is arbitrated through a global portalmodule. A user may navigate to other websites using drop-down menu 320.For example, a user may connect directly to a website for one of thecomputerized insurance services 102 by selecting the service from thedrop-down menu 320. In some embodiments, once a user identity isaccepted by the graphical user interface 300, a user can access multiplecomputerized insurance services from the computerized insurance services102 without being required to login again.

In some embodiments, an user's historical (i.e., “legacy”) accounts withsome or all of the computerized insurance services 102 are not fullycompliant with a global user identity requirement and so existing usersof the integrated insurance system 108 are required to undergo aself-registration process for a global user identity. A prospective orcurrent customer who has not yet successfully registered for a globaluser identity for the integrated insurance system 108 can initiate afirst-time self-registration process by selecting link 309. A user whohas forgotten their username or login credentials can select link 307 toinitiate a process to recover the missing information.

Display area 350 provides a unified view of insurance productsassociated with a given customer. For example, in the example of FIG. 3,a customer, Joel, has an auto policy, business policy, and at least onewealth management account (e.g., a mutual fund investment account, a401(k) retirement account, and/or an annuity investment account) withthe Hartford insurance company, and links to these services are providedin the display area 350. As will be explained further in thisdisclosure, the services displayed in display area 350 may depend notjust on a user identity used to login but also on a currently active“role” for the user identity. For example, the insurance servicesdisplayed in display area 350 may vary depending on whether a user logsin a “customer,” “employee,” or “beneficiary” role. Although the displayarea is pre-populated with only some insurance services, a user mayaccess a wider range of the computerized insurance services 102 usingmenu 340. For example, a user may access services from the computerizedinsurance services 102 organized by “home,” “life,” “business,”“benefits,” and “investments” categories.

In addition to accessing individual computerized insurance services fromgraphical user interface 300, a user may also access a My Profileportion of the graphical user interface 300 by selecting link 330 todisplay panel 335. From the display panel 335, a user may modify contactpreferences, role information, opt in or out of various services, changelanguage preferences, and perform a variety of other tasks which aredescribed elsewhere in this disclosure. A user may also edit securitysettings from the display panel 335. For example, a user may performprocedures to temporarily or permanently step-up an authentication scoreso as to increase access rights for additional features of some or allof the computerized insurance services 102. In some embodiments, a usermay set one or more security questions as depicted in the display panel335.

In some embodiments, a user may set contact preferences directly fromthe display panel 335. For example, the display panel 335 shows thatcontact information may be set for each of four different tabs. The fourtabs may correspond to different roles that Joel uses to access thefront-end computing system 109. For example, the tab labeled “one” maycorrespond to a “customer” role, the tab labeled “two” may correspond toa “business” role, the tab labeled “three” may correspond to a“beneficiary” role, and the tab labeled “four” may correspond to a“claimant” role. Thus, Joel enters default contact information for eachof these roles using the corresponding tab in the display panel 335. Insome embodiments, the tabs index computerized insurances services ratherthan roles. Suppose Joel is registered for three computerized insuranceservices: auto insurance, business insurance, and mutual funds, asillustrated in FIG. 3. Then, in some embodiments, only three tabs aredisplayed in the “Contact” section of the display panel 335, and Joelenters default contact information for each of these three computerizedinsurance services using the corresponding tab.

In some embodiments, an access request to modify information via the MyProfile utility 519 is permitted only if an authentication scoreassociated with a currently active user identity and role exceeds athreshold value retrieved from the security module. Similarly, a userrequest to change the active role for a user identity may only bepermitted if the authentication score associated with a currently activeuser identity and role exceeds a threshold value, which may depend onthe current and/or desired role, that is retrieved from the securitymodule described in relation to FIG. 1. If these conditions are notsatisfied, the user may be prompted to permanently or temporarilyincrease the authentication score according to techniques describedelsewhere in this disclosure.

The information provided in the graphical user interface 300 may beobtained by querying the individual computerized insurance services 102.For example, the front-end computing service may automatically query theindividual computerized insurance services 102 to collect thisinformation. Additionally or alternatively, the individual computerizedinsurance services 102 may send data to the front-end computing system109 that provides this information without being queried. Further, theindividual computerized insurance services 102 may send instructions todirectly display information on the graphical user interface 300 or thefront-end computing system 109 may generate these instructions from moregeneral data received from the computerized insurance services.Instructions may be translated between the individual computerizedinsurance services and the front-end computing system 300 using an API.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a graphical user interface for securelysetting and modifying document delivery preferences according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a useraccesses graphical user interface 400 by selecting the My Profile link330 from the graphical user interface 300 and selecting a “documentdelivery preferences” option (not shown) from the display panel 335. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, a user may set and/or modify document deliverypreferences globally, i.e., across all of computerized insuranceservices 102, from the graphical user interface 400. As furtherillustrated, a user may also customize document delivery preferencesaccording to the specific document types associated with each of thecomputerized insurance services 102 and the user's various roles withthe front-end computing system 109.

A user of the front-end computing system 109 selects a role from roleselection panel 410 to customize document delivery preferences for thatrole. In the illustrated example, Joel has established “personal,”“beneficiary,” “business,” and “claimant” roles with the front endcomputing system 109. Thus, the role selection panel 410 ispre-populated with each of these roles. As illustrated, Joel hasselected to set and/or modify document delivery preferences associatedwith his personal role, and hence, the radio button for this role isselected (i.e., “filled in”) in the role selection panel 410.Alternatively, Joel's personal role may be preselected, without directinput from Joel, if this was Joel's active role when Joel last accessedthe graphical user interface 400.

In the illustrative example of FIG. 4, Joel's personal role isassociated with four of the computerized insurance services 102, i.e.,an auto insurance service, a retirement 401(k) service, a mutual fundservice, and an annuity investment service. The front-end computingsystem 109 automatically organizes the retirement 401(k) service, themutual fund service, and the annuity investment service under the titleof “wealth management” in display area 420. Alternatively, in someembodiments, one of the computerized insurance services 102 is a generalwealth management service that includes a retirement 401(k) service, amutual fund service, and an annuity investment service as componentservices. In either case, display area 420 provides “Auto Policy” and“Wealth Management” headings based on the services associated withJoel's “personal” role. As illustrated, Joel may set document deliverypreferences based on a tree-like selection structure, where selecting“+” expands document delivery preferences and selecting “-” collapsesdocument delivery preferences. As illustrated, Joel has elected to setor modify document delivery preferences for a mutual fund computerizedinsurance service from the computerized insurance services 102. In theexample, Joel is able to set document delivery preferences for monthlystatements, quarterly statements, year-end (“yearly”) statements, andprospectuses. As illustrated, Joel has selected to receive yearlystatements by paper delivery. However, Joel also has the option toselect to receive yearly statements by e-mail or fax, as well as by anyother suitable document delivery method (though these additionaldelivery methods are not explicitly shown in FIG. 4).

In general, the document types (monthly statements, quarterlystatements, year-end statements, and prospectuses in FIG. 4) anddelivery options (e-mail, paper delivery, and fax in FIG. 4) displayedin display area 420 depend on the particular computerized insuranceservice and the role for which delivery preferences are being set. Forexample, an auto insurance policy service may include document types of“policy renewal documents” and “insurance claim status reports,” whichare not typically documents associated with a mutual fund service. Asanother example, a retirement 401(k) policy may allow e-mail and paperdelivery, but not fax delivery, of some or all documents types based onsecurity considerations. As another example, a retirement 401(k) servicemay allow delivery of prospectuses, but not monthly or quarterlystatements, to users who access the retirement 401(k) service through abeneficiary role. Thus, options for monthly or quarterly statementswould not appear in the display area 420 for these users. On the otherhand, users who are affiliated with the retirement 401(k) servicethrough a personal role may be allowed to select delivery options foreach of monthly statements, quarterly statements, and prospectuses.

The document types and delivery options may further depend on a securitylevel (e.g., an authentication score) associated with a user of thegraphical user interface 400. For example, if a user's authenticationscore is sufficiently low, e-mail delivery of a particular document typemay not be possible for the user. In some embodiments, the user may begiven the option to increase his or her security credentials (e.g., theauthentication score) in order to select the delivery via the desiredmethod.

For example, padlock icon 430 indicates that, while Joel is notcurrently able to select e-mail delivery of yearly statements in amutual fund service, Joel may use step-up authentication procedures toincrease his authentication score so that e-mail delivery may beselected. In some embodiments, Joel would select radio button 432 andthen be directed by the graphical user interface 400 to provide secureinformation items and/or security credentials to appropriately increasehis authentication score and/or related access rights. Further, theincrease in authentication score may be temporary, valid for the currentactivity session, or may permanently increase Joel's authenticationscore and/or related access rights. Similarly, Joel may be restrictedfrom selecting document delivery preferences for certain roles withoutfirst performing authentication procedures to temporarily or permanentlyincrease his authentication score and/or related access rights, asindicated by padlock icon 440. Temporary and permanent step-upauthentication procedures are described more fully in relation to FIGS.5-10 of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an architectural diagram of an implementation 500 of theintegrated system servers 112 depicted in FIG. 1 according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theimplementation 500 includes a profile module 510, a security module 520,and a portal module 530. Each of these modules is stored in memory ofthe integrated insurance system 108 in the form of computer executableinstructions and is executed by one or more processors of the integratedinsurance system 108. In some embodiments, software code for each ofthese modules is stored in memory of the integrated system servers 114and is executed using one or more processors of the integrated systemservers 114. Alternatively, the software code for some or all of themodules may be stored in locations internal or external to the front-endcomputing system 109 and may be executed using other processingresources, e.g., the processing unit 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the profile module 510, security module 520,and portal module 530 are all communicatively coupled to each other andalso to the computerized insurance services 102. Further, each of thesemodules is communicatively coupled to the network interface 114. Theportal module provides instructions for the display of graphical userinterface 300 to a user of the front-end computing system 109.Additionally, these instructions may be sent directly from one of theindividual computerized insurance services 102. A user's selections onthe graphical user interface 300 are routed by the portal module 530 tothe computerized insurance services 102, the profile module 510, or thesecurity module 520 as appropriate.

Each global user identity registered with the integrated insurancesystem 108 is associated with one or more roles. A role describes thenature of the user's interactions with the front-end computing system109 in a certain capacity, which may be personal or professional. As anillustrative example, consider a customer of the insurance company namedJoel Smith who owns a small business which is covered by a businessinsurance policy, has a personal health insurance policy in which aclaim was recently filed, and is designated as the beneficiary onanother party's life insurance policy with the insurance company.Suppose further that Joel is registered with the front-end computingsystem 109 using a global user-identity of JoelSmith12345. The useridentity JoelSmith12345 would be associated with at least the followingroles:

-   -   “policy holder”—corresponding to Joel's personal health        insurance policy and business insurance policy;    -   “beneficiary”—corresponding to the life insurance policy on        which Joel has been designated a beneficiary;    -   “business owner”—corresponding to Joel's business insurance        policy; and    -   “claimant”—corresponding to Joel's personal health insurance        policy.        Some of these roles are long-term in nature (e.g., business        owner) while others are short-term (e.g., claimant). Some roles        are based on Joel as an individual while others relate to Joel's        business. In general, a role corresponds to one or more        insurance policies with which a user is affiliated.

Role information is used to customize presentation and security featuresof the front-end computing system. For example, when Joel logs in underhis policy holder role, a link to both a health insurance service and abusiness insurance service from the computerized insurance services 102will be displayed in the display area 350 (additionally, informationfrom the specific policies of these services that relate to Joel may bedisplayed in the graphical user interface 300). When Joel logs in underthe claimant role, a link to the current status of his personal healthinsurance claim may be displayed in the display area 350. Importantly,as will be described further, each user identity and role is associatedwith an authentication score. The authentication score is used toselectively grant access to certain features of the computerizedinsurance services 102.

The profile module 510 stores or else maintains pointers to informationfor each user identity that is registered, or that has attempted to beregistered, with the front-end computing system 109. This informationincludes, for each user identity and role (if multiple roles areassociated with a given user identity):

-   -   contact information (name, address, phone number, e-mail);    -   an authentication score;    -   notifications and alerts;    -   communications preferences (e-delivery, mail);    -   display settings;    -   consent for information sharing;    -   beneficiary information;    -   default language;    -   terms and conditions signed and to be signed;    -   default device options and layouts for graphical interfaces; and    -   past transaction history (including history of failed login        attempts and IP addresses used).        Further, each user identity is associated with a default role.        For example, if Joel Smith has selected “claimant” as his        default role, then when Joel Smith logs in to front-end        computing system 100, he is presented with options customized        according to the “claimant” role. A user may change the role        associated with a given activity session.

A non-exhaustive list of roles associated with the front-end computingsystem 109 includes: agent, applicant, assignee, auditor, beneficiary,biller, broker, buyer, carrier, claim expert, claimant, claimee,coinsurer, contractor, credit specialist, customer, employee, insured,legal advisor, paying agent, policy holder, reinsurer, requester,retiree, supplier, investor, and underwriter.

In some embodiments, the agent role is used by an agent of the insurancecompany to access information related to customer accounts served by theagent on behalf of the insurance company. For example, an agent of theinsurance company may represent dozens or hundreds of customers of theinsurance company. When the agent logs into the front-end computingsystem 109 under the agent role, the agent may be able to access policyinformation for these customers (e.g., in response to a customer requestto do so). In some embodiments, the agent's access under the agent roleis restricted only to those types of policies and/or services that theagent directly services (e.g., if the agent works only in auto insurancesales and service, then the agent would only have access to the autoinsurance component of customer policies). In other embodiments, theagent is granted access to information for the other computerizedinsurance services that agent's customers use. The agent may use thisadditional information to identify opportunities to add, remove, orotherwise modify the insurance services used by a customer. The agentmay then recommend insurance coverage changes to the customer based onthis additional information. In some embodiments, an agent is onlygranted access to customer accounts after explicit approval is grantedby the customer.

The profile module 510 includes a profile utility 518, which includes anumber of support services, including support services 512, 514, and 516(as well as other support services not explicitly illustrated in FIG.5). The support services interact with the other components of theintegrated insurance system 108 to provide a uniform experience tousers. In some embodiments, the services 512, 514, and 516 include oneor more of a data pre-populate service, a data verification service, amerge and link service, a role management service, and a data updateservice.

The data pre-populate service of profile utility 518 can be called byone of the computerized insurance services 102 as a request forinformation stored in connection with the portal module 530. Forexample, one of the computerized insurance services 102 may pre-populatea new account form based on global contact information (name, address,phone number, and/or e-mail) retrieved from the profile module 510. Inanother example, web pages and forms presented to a user of one of thecomputerized insurance services 102 may be pre-populated based on adefault language preference (e.g., English) associated with a currentuser identity and role that is obtained by calling the role managementservice of the profile utility 510.

The data verification service of profile utility 518 can be called byone of the computerized insurance services 102 as a request forauthentication information, past transaction history, or otherinformation related to verifying a user identity or an authenticationscore associated with a user identity. As an illustrative example, auser may attempt to access a restricted service, such as a beneficiarydesignation form, while using a wealth management service included asone of the computerized insurance services 102. In this case, the wealthmanagement service investment service may make a request to the dataverification service of profile utility 518 in two ways. First, when auser first attempts to login to the wealth management service, thewealth management service sends a query to the data verification serviceof profile utility 518 to determine whether an authentication score ofthe user, under the role, is greater than a first threshold value.Second, when a user attempts to use the wealth management service tochange the beneficiary form, the wealth management service sends anotherquery to data verification service of profile utility 518 to determinewhether the authentication score of the user, also under the currentrole, is greater than a second, greater, threshold value.

The data update service of profile utility 518 can be called by one ofthe computerized insurance services 102, by security module 520, byportal module 530 or by other components of the integrated insurancesystem 108 to provide updates to stored user profile informationincluding updates to a transaction history associated with a useridentity. As an illustrative example, a user may change a phone numberon a beneficiary form in one of the computerized insurance services(e.g., to be different than pre-populated information). In this case,the computerized insurance service would send a data update request tothe profile utility 510 to update the phone number so that the updatednumber is available globally throughout the computerized insuranceservices 102. Before doing so, a user may be prompted to indicatewhether they want the change to apply globally or just within the activecomputerized insurance service.

The merge and link service of profile utility 518 can be called by oneof the computerized insurance services 102, by security module 520, byportal module 530, or by other components of the integrated insurancesystem 108. The merge and link service is responsible for merging andlinking legacy accounts (i.e., accounts previously created forindividual ones of the computerized insurance services 102). In someembodiments, a user's legacy accounts are identified by profile utility518, merged (if the legacy accounts are substantially compatible) orlinked (if the legacy accounts are not substantially compatible). Insome embodiments, the merging and/or linking is performed upon initialself-registration and the merged and/or linked accounts are then used tocreate a single global user identity for use with the integratedinsurance system 108. During the merging process, a user may be promptedto resolve conflicting data from the to-be-merged accounts (e.g.,conflicting address information).

The role management service of profile utility 518 can be called by oneof the computerized insurance services 102, by security module 520, byportal module 530, or by other components of the integrated insurancesystem 108. The service permits a user to add and remove rolesassociated with a given user identity.

The profile module 510 includes a My Profile utility 519. The My Profileutility 519 is responsible for handling updates and modifications touser profile information when a user directly changes profileinformation via link 330 on graphical user interface 300.

The profile module 510 includes a profile administrative applicationsutility 515. The profile administrative applications utility 515 allowsan external user to call applications to view, modify, and/or exportstored profile information. For example, an employee of the insurancecompany may invoke the profile administrative applications utility 515using one of the company terminals 122. Similarly, manual adjustments tothe information stored through the profile module 510 can be made byexecuting the applications of the profile administrative applicationsutility 515.

The security module 520 includes a security utility 529, which includesa number of support services, including support services 522, 524, and526 (as well as other support services not explicitly illustrated inFIG. 5). The support services interact with the other components of theintegrated insurance system 108 to globally manage security aspects ofuser self-registration, authentication, and authorization. In someembodiments, the services 522, 524, and 526 include one or more of aninformation collection service, a data verification service, anauthentication score management service, a credential service, and anauthentication service.

The information collection service of the security utility 518 can becalled by one of the computerized insurance services 102, the portalmodule 530, the profile module 510, or some other component of theintegrated insurance system 108. The information collection serviceobtains information about a user identity necessary to make a decisionas to whether to issue one or more security credentials to the user.This information may be obtained by calling the profile module 510, bygenerating queries to a user for information, or by accessinginformation from the external databases 121 or the internal informationrepository 104 and prompting the user for some of the accessedinformation. The information can also be obtained from other sources,such as information provided by a user to a representative of theinsurance company, information mailed to the insurance company by theuser, or information submitted to the insurance company by a third partyprovider based on an in-person visit of the user to the third partyprovider (e.g., results of drug and substance tests).

The data verification service of the security utility 518 can be calledby one of the computerized insurance services 102, the portal module530, the profile module 510 or other component of the integratedinsurance system 108. The data verification service compares informationreceived from the user using the information collection service toobjective measures of performance and/or to data received from trustedsources. As an illustrative example, a substance and drug test resultsubmitted by a user via the information collection service may becompared to predefined tables to determine whether the test is a “pass”by the standards of the insurance company. Non-binary measures may alsobe used to assess the performance of the test. As another example,financial record information provided by a user may be compared topublic records available in one of the external databases 121 tocorroborate the provided information. In some embodiments, the dataverification service provides a verification score which indicates thedegree to which the user has been verified. The verification score maybe a number (e.g., between 1 and 100) and may depend both on the amountof information requested by the information collection service and theresults of the data verification process.

The credential service of the security utility 518 establishes one ormore security credentials for a user based on the verification score. Insome embodiments, no credentials are issued unless the verificationscore is above a threshold. The one or more security credentials may beissued by the insurance company (e.g., a secure RSA token code),supplied by the user (e.g., a password), or a combination thereof. Insome embodiments, the user may select from different types of possiblesecurity credentials and establish the selected types of securitycredentials. Once established, the one or more credentials are recordedby the security module 520 for future reference.

The authentication score management service of the security utility 518establishes and updates an authentication score for each user identityand role registered with front-end computing system 109. Theauthentication score management service first determines an initialauthentication score based on the verification score. In someembodiments, the initial authentication score is equal to the dataverification score. Further, the authentication score management serviceupdates the score based on user activity, for example, failed andsuccessful login attempts, and provides the authentication score torequesting services. Further, the authentication score managementservices initiates activities that allow a user to temporarily orpermanently increase the authentication score associated with a useridentity and/or role.

As an illustrative example, a user may request to access a feature of agiven one of the computerized insurance services for which the user doesnot have a high enough authentication score. In this case, thecomputerized insurance service may call the authentication scoremanagement service of the security module 520. Alternatively, thesecurity module 520 may monitor user interactions with the computerizedinsurance service and initiate a call of the authentication scoremanagement service on its own. In either case, the authentication scoremanagement service may proceed by retrieving the relevant authenticationscore from the profile module 510 based on a currently active useridentity and role, comparing it to a required authentication scorethreshold, and providing a value of a required increase in theauthentication score to the information collection service of thesecurity module 520. The information collection service, the dataverification service, and the credential service may execute asdescribed above in order to establish an authentication score for theuser that will be sufficient for the user to access the desired feature.

The authentication service of the security utility 518 authenticates auser by prompting the user for one or more previously establishedsecurity credentials and “authenticating” the user if correct (orsufficiently correct) responses are supplied in response to the prompts.

The security module 520 includes a My Security utility 529. The MySecurity utility 529 is responsible for handling security-relatedupdates and modifications that may be requested directly by a user viathe graphical user interface 300. A user may access the My Securityutility from the display panel 335 described in FIG. 3. In someembodiments (not explicitly shown in FIG. 3), a separate My Securitylink is presented on graphical user interface 300, and a user may clickon the link to display a panel similar in design to the display panel335, but displaying primarily security-related options.

The security module 520 includes a security administrative applicationsutility 525. The security administrative applications utility 525 allowsan external user to call applications to view, modify, and/or exportstored registration and authentication information. For example, anemployee of the insurance company may invoke the security administrativeapplications utility 525 using one of the company terminals 122.Similarly, manual adjustments to the information stored through thesecurity module 520 can be made.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the security utility 528 includes registrationlogic 527 and authentication logic 532. The registration logic 527includes specialized software and/or hardware components configured toallow users to self-register for a global account for use with thefront-end computing system 109. Similarly, the authentication logic 532includes specialized software and/or hardware components configured toauthenticate and grant access rights to users of the front-end computingsystem 109. The registration logic 527 and authentication logic 532 areeach used to invoke appropriate support services of the security module.In some embodiments, the registration logic 527 executes some or all ofthe self-registration computing steps described in relation to FIGS. 6and 7, while the authentication logic 527 is used to execute some or allof the authentication and authorization computing steps described inrelation to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method 600 for the self-registration of auser of the integrated insurance system 108 according to an illustrativeembodiment of the invention. The method 600 comprises receiving arequest for self-registration of a user identity (step 610), collectingone or more secure information items associated with the user identity(step 620), invoking a data verification service to verify data anddetermine a verification score (step 630), comparing the verificationscore to a threshold (step 640), registering the user identity if theverification score exceeds a threshold (step 660), and declining toregister the user identity if the verification score does not exceed thethreshold (step 650).

The front-end computing system 109 receives a request forself-registration of a user identity (step 610). The self-registrationrequest may be initiated directly by a user who selects theself-registration link 309 of the graphical user interface 300. In thiscase, the self-registration request is sent from the portal module 530to the security utility 528. Additionally, the self-registration requestmay be initiated automatically by one of the computerized insuranceservices 102 after a user logs in directly to one of the individualcomputerized insurance services 102 (e.g., during a period in which aninsurance company is transitioning existing user accounts for theindividual computerized insurance services 102 into a single globalaccount for the front-end computing system 109). In this case, theself-registration request is sent from the individual computerizedinsurance service 102 to the security utility 528. Upon receiving theself-registration request, the security utility 528 invokes registrationlogic 527 to execute one or more of the support services of the securitymodule 520 to perform self-registration.

The security utility 528 invokes the information collection service ofthe security module 520 to collect one or more secure information itemsassociated with the user identity (step 620). The security module 520uses the collected secure information items to verify that a user is whohe/she claims to be at the time that self-registration is requested. Tocollect the secure information items, the information collection servicequeries the user for identifying information. To do so, the informationcollection service may generate queries by pooling information from theinternal information repository 104, the external databases 121, theinformation stored by the user profile module 510, and/or informationobtained in connection with legacy accounts registered with thecomputerized insurance services 102. Additionally, the informationcollection service may request information from a user that requires theuser to provide identification and verification information (e.g.,biometric information) to a representative of the insurance company overthe telephone, by visiting a local branch of the insurance company or athird-party site, and/or by mailing materials to the insurance company.

The security utility 528 invokes the data verification service to verifydata and determine a verification score (step 630). The dataverification is determined by comparing user supplied answers (from step620) with expected answers (where applicable) and/or predefined responseranges (where applicable). In some embodiments, each user answer isassigned a numerical value, and the user's verification score is equalto the sum value of the numerical values associated with the user'sanswers. The security utility 528 also invokes the data verificationservice to compare the verification score with a threshold value neededto self-register the requested user identity.

If the verification score exceeds the threshold value (determined atstep 640), the user identity is registered (step 660). A method forregistering a user is explained in greater detail in relation to FIG. 7.On the other hand, if the verification score does not exceed thethreshold value (determined at step 640), the front-end computing system109 declines to register the user identity. In certain embodiments, theregistration logic 527 returns to collect additional information aboutthe user (at step 620). In certain embodiments, the declination places ablock on registry of the user identity until further action is taken(e.g., a customer calls the insurance company). Even if a user identityis declined for registration (at step 650), information about the useridentity is stored in the profile module 510. For example, the specificuser interactions that resulted in declining registration are stored.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method 700 showing further details for theself-registration of a user of the integrated insurance system 108according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The method 700corresponds to a more detailed illustration of registering a useridentity (step 660) of FIG. 6 in accordance with embodiments. The method700 comprises setting one or more security credentials for a useridentity (step 710), merging any legacy user accounts (step 720),automatically creating roles for the user identity (step 730), promptingthe user to add and/or remove roles (step 740), determining an initialauthentication score for the user identity (step 750), storing theregistered user identity and authentication score for each role (step750), and creating a user profile and security profile entry for eachuser identity (step 760).

The security utility 528 invokes the credential service of the securitymodule 520 to set or establish one or more security credentials for theuser (step 710). The security credentials may include biometricidentifiers, passwords, RSA tokens, security images, and othercredentials. In some embodiments, the user can choose certain securitycredentials from a plurality of possible security credentials. Further,some of the set security credentials (step 710) may correspond toinformation provided during data collection (step 620). For example, auser may have supplied a fingerprint identifier during an in-personvisit to a local branch of the insurance company (step 620), and thisfingerprint identifier may be set as a security credential (step 710).In addition to setting security credentials (step 710), the credentialservice also supplies the user with the information needed to providethe security credentials in subsequent sessions with the front-endcomputing system 109. For example, instructions may be sent to mail tothe user an RSA key generator and/or a fingerprint scanner. Informationon established credentials may also be presented to the user on ascreen.

In some embodiments, one or more security credentials may be set orestablished (at step 710) by importing security credentials previouslyestablished by the user with respect to other trusted servicesmaintained by the insurance company. For example, in some embodiments,security credentials previously established with respect to individualones of the computerized insurance services 102 are imported (at step710) and this saves the user the time and inconvenience of having toestablish some or all of the security credentials normally requiredduring registration with the front-end computing system 109 (at step710). In some embodiments, security credentials are imported fromtrusted third-party services, i.e., that are not maintained or owned bythe insurance company. Examples of trusted third-party services mayinclude a third-party verification service, a third-party identitymanagement service, or a trusted affiliated business. For example, auser may have already completed similar security procedures with respectto an independently owned and operated third-party brokerage website. Inthis case, the insurance company may have an agreement with thethird-party brokerage website to allow the importation of the user'spreviously established security credentials during the user'sregistration with the front-end computing system 109 (at step 710). Insome embodiments, the trusted third-party service is an identificationor verification service run by a state or federal government, or aservice that that collects and provides state or federal governmentrecords (e.g., Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records and/orpassport-related records).

The profile utility 518 invokes the merge and link service to mergeand/or link legacy user accounts (step 720). Specifically, the merge andlink service queries some or all of the computerized insurance services102 to determine if legacy accounts have been created corresponding tothe user identity. The user may also be prompted to provide informationon possible legacy accounts to the merge and link service, which thenverifies this information. Once the legacy accounts have been identifiedthey are either merged and/or linked to the newly registered global useridentity. In some embodiments, legacy login information is renderedinactive once the legacy account is merged with the newly registeredglobal user identity, and the user is forced to use the global useridentity in future interactions with the integrated insurance system108. For some legacy accounts, the legacy account is linked, rather thanmerged, to the newly registered global user identity. Linking of theuser account to the global user identity enables much of the samefunctionality as account merging but leaves the linked legacy accountactive so that a user can still use the old account information todirectly log in to the corresponding computerized insurance service.

In some embodiments, the information platform running a linked legacyaccount proactively generates most or all of the calls to the userprofile module 510 and the security module 520 (i.e., rather thanrelying on queries initiated by these modules to the informationplatform) to provide similar or identical integrative functionality toprofile and security services as available for merged legacy accounts.For example, when user logs in directly to a legacy linked account, thelegacy linked account may proactively generate one or more calls to thesecurity module 520 so that login authentication can be performed usingthe information established from the user's global user identity.Instructions between the legacy account and the security module 520 maybe translated using an API or any other technique or system. Thistranslation may be performed by the information platform running thelegacy account, by the security module 520, or by another intermediarycomputing device or resource.

The profile utility 518 invokes the role management service toautomatically create roles for the newly registered user identity (step730). The automatic creation of roles is context sensitive. For example,roles may be created for some or all of the merged legacy accounts(determined at step 720) based on a type of the legacy account. A mergedbusiness insurance legacy account may result in the automatic creationof a “business owner” role and the population of the user profileinformation of the newly created user identity with information from thebusiness account. Similarly, a merged health insurance account thatincludes a recently filed claim may result in the creation of two roles,a “policy holder” role reflecting the personal health insurance policyin general and a “claimant” role reflecting a recently submitted healthinsurance claim submitting for the policy.

The profile utility 518 invokes the role management service to add orremove roles from those automatically created (step 740). In addition, auser may add or change default preferences associated with each role.For example, a user may select a preferred contact method (e.g., amongphone, mail, or e-mail) and default display options for the graphicaluser interface 300 associated with each role.

The security utility 528 invokes the authentication score managementservice of the security module 520 to determine an initialauthentication score for each role of the user identity (step 750). Theinitial authentication score may be set based on the verification score(determined at step 630). Additionally or alternatively, the initialauthentication score may be based on an access device used by the user,an IP address of a user device used to access the self-registrationprocess, the one or more secure information items supplied by the user(step 620), the security credentials set and/or provided to the user(step 710), as well as other information. In some embodiments, theauthentication score is a positive-valued integer, with higher valuesindicating higher degrees of trust that a user identity corresponds tothe registered customer.

The profile utility 518 and security utility 528 create a user profileand security profile, respectively, for the user identity (step 760).The user profile and security profile store information provided andinferred about the user identity in the steps illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6. For example, the user profile stores the user identity, rolesassociated with the user identity, preferences associated with theroles, the initial authentication score for each role, and logs some orall of the user interactions with the front-end computer system 109during the self-registration process. The security profile storesinformation related to the one or more security credentials supplied tothe user that will later be used by the user to authenticate himself orherself to the front-end computing system 109 in subsequent activitysessions.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method 800 used by the integrated insurancesystem 108 to selectively grant access to features of the computerizedinsurance services 102 (FIG. 1) based on access rights according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention. The method 800 comprisesreceiving a user login request to one of the computerized insuranceservices 102 that includes a user identity and one or more previouslyestablished (i.e., registered) security credentials (step 810),determining an authentication score associated with the user identity,the user supplied security credentials, and a role (step 820),determining a set of access rights that will govern the user'sinteractions with the computerized insurance service (step 830),receiving a request to access a feature of the computerized insuranceservice that is not included in the set of access rights (step 840),determining one or more additional previously established securitycredentials (step 850), prompting the user to supply information on someor all of the additional one or more security credentials (step 860),determining whether the access rights include access to the requestedfeature (step 870), prompting the user to increase the set of accessrights to include the requested feature (step 880), collecting one ormore additional secure information items associated with the useridentity, updating the user's authentication score, and updating the setof access rights (890), allowing access to the requested feature (step896), and denying access to the requested feature (step 893).

The integrated insurance system 108 receives a user login request to oneof the computerized insurance services 102 (step 810). The login requestincludes a user identity and one or more previously established securitycredentials associated with the user identity. The login request isreceived from a user interacting with one of the user computing devices130 and 132.

Before the user is permitted to access the requested computerizedinsurance service, the security module 520 determines an authenticationscore associated with the user identity, the supplied securitycredentials, and a role (step 820). In some embodiments, theauthentication score consists of a “base” component, retrieved fromstorage of the integrated insurance system 108, and a “dynamic”component, based on activities that occur during the user's currentactivity session. The component parts of the authentication score willbe further described in the subsequent disclosure.

The security module 520 determines a set of access rights that willgovern the user's interactions with the computerized insurance service(step 830). Examples of access rights will be provided in the subsequentdisclosure. However, a basic access right is entry. If the entry accessright is included, the user will be permitted baseline access to theselected computerized insurance service in which at least some basicfeatures are available to the user.

The integrated insurance system 108 receives a request to access afeature of the computerized insurance service that is not included inthe set of access rights (step 840). For example, a user may request tochange beneficiary information associated with an annuity investmentservice after logging in to the service, but may have only been grantedbasic read (or “view”) access (step 830) to the annuity investmentservice when the user initially logged in, which does not include aright to change potentially sensitive beneficiary information (e.g., thename of a beneficiary and/or an allocation of the account among severalbeneficiaries). As another example, a user may request to change theamount of coverage for her husband within a life insurance computerizedservice, but may have only been granted basic read access (step 830) tothe life insurance service when she initially logged in.

The integrated insurance system 108 determines whether one or moreadditional previously established security credentials exist and, if so,whether the user's supply of the security credentials would sufficientlyraise the user's authentication score so as to grant the requestedaccess right. If such credentials are available the user is prompted tosupply information on some or all of the credentials (step 860).Otherwise, the user is queried to determine if the user wishes to takeadditional authentication actions to increase the set of access rightsto the required level to gain the desired access right (step 880).

The authentication score management service of the security module 520determines possible combinations of the remaining one or more securitycredentials that, if properly answered, would allow the requested accessright (step 860). The system then prompts the user to enter one of thesecombinations. In some embodiments, the authentication score managementservice of the security module 520 allows the user to choose a validcombination of the one or more additional security credentials and thenprompts the user for the selected credential information. Based on theuser's supplied information, the authentication score management serviceof the security module 520 updates the authentication score and updatesthe set of access rights.

For example, a user may have previously (e.g., at an earlier date)established three additional security credentials that were not providedwhen the user initially logged in (step 810). For example, the user mayhave logged in using a standard eight to ten digital password (at step810), but may have also previously established the following threesecurity credentials: answers to a set of security questions related tothe user's personal life (e.g., a name of a middle school attended, nameof a grandparent, and name of a favorite athlete), a customized pin codefor an RSA code generation tool in the user's possession, and afingerprint scan created a biometric scanner in the user's possession.In this case, the authentication score management service of thesecurity module 520 may determine that if the user were to correctlyprovide at least two of the three unused security credentials (i.e., theset of security answers, the RSA code, and the fingerprint), that theuser's authentication score would be sufficiently increased so that therequested access right would be included in an updated set of accessrights. The security module 520 may then generate instructions fordisplaying a prompt to the user to select any two of the threepreviously established security credentials and enter the correspondinginformation.

The authentication service of the security module 520 determines if therequested access right is in the updated set of access rights (step 870)(this may not be the case if the user improperly supplies some of theadditional security credentials). If so, the user is allowed to accessthe requested feature of the computerized insurance service (step 896).If not, the user is queried to determine if the user wishes to takeadditional authentication actions to increase the set of access rights(step 880). Alternatively, the integrated insurance system 108 maysimply deny access to the requested feature (step 893).

If the user elects to increase the set of access rights (at step 880),the user is prompted for one or more additional secure information itemsassociated with the user identity (step 890). Specifically, the securityutility 528 invokes the information collection service of the securitymodule 520 to collect one or more additional secure information itemsassociated with the user identity. The security module 520 uses thecollected secure information items to verify that a user is who theyclaim to be. To collect the secure information items, the informationcollection service queries the user for identifying information. Forexample, the information collection service may query the user usingtechnique similar or identical to those described in relation to FIG. 6(step 620).

To do so, the information collection service may generate queries bypooling information from the internal information repository 104, theexternal databases 121, the information stored by the user profilemodule 510, and/or information obtained in connection with legacyaccounts registered with the computerized insurance services 102.Additionally, the information collection service may request informationfrom a user that requires the user to provide information to arepresentative of the insurance company over the telephone, visit alocal branch of the insurance company or a third-party site to provideidentification and verification information (e.g., biometricinformation), or mail additional information to the insurance company.The authentication score management service of the security module 520updates the user authentication score and updates the set of accessrights associated with the updated authentication score.

The authentication service of the security module 520 determines if therequested access right is in the updated set of access rights (step870). If so, the user is allowed to access the requested feature of thecomputerized insurance service (step 896). If not, the integratedinsurance system 108 may simply deny access to the requested feature(step 893).

FIG. 9 is flowchart of a method 900 used by the security module 520 totrack an authentication score for a user identity over time based onuser and non-user interactions with the integrated insurance system 108.The method comprises receiving a user identity as a first part of anattempted user login (step 902), retrieving a base authentication scorefor the user identity (step 905), setting a dynamic authentication scorefor the user identity and a role (step 910), waiting for one of apredetermined number of events to occur (step 915), where thepredetermined events include a user request to increase a set of accessrights for a given computerized insurance product (step 920), receivinga user request to settings via the My Security utility (step 925),receiving a user request to change settings via the My Profile utility(step 930), detecting a non-user action (step 935), and waiting apredetermined amount of time since a user activity (step 940). Themethod further comprises determining if the request for access rights isfor a temporary increase in the access rights (step 953), modifying abase authentication score (step 960), and modifying a dynamicauthentication score (step 965). The method further comprises receivingadministrative changes while a user is offline (step 950) andautomatically making changes to an authentication score while a user isoffline (step 955).

The method is executed when the integrated insurance system 108 receivesa user identity as a first part of an attempted user login (step 902).Upon receiving a user identity, and before corresponding login securitycredentials are supplied, the security module 520 calls the profilemodule 510 to retrieve a base authentication score for the user identity(step 905). The base authentication score is typically a number valuethat represents a previously existing and stored component of an overallauthentication score for the user identity. In certain embodiments, thebase authentication score is set based on the number and nature of thesecurity credentials previously established for the user identity (i.e.,during initial self-registration and any subsequent “step-up”authentication procedures) as well as based on a past history of userinteractions with the integrated insurance system 108.

The base authentication score further depends on roles associated withthe user identity. Specifically, if a default role is assigned to theuser identity, then the base authentication score that is retrieved isthe base authentication score for the default role. Otherwise, if nodefault role has been set, then the base authentication score isassigned to the lowest base authentication score for any of the rolesassociated with the user identity. Further, the base authenticationscore is modified (lowered) after retrieval if invalid login credentialswere supplied (e.g., if a predetermined number of invalid login attemptsare detected).

After receiving valid login credentials, the security module sets adynamic authentication score for the user identity and role (step 910).The dynamic authentication score represents a temporary adjustment tothe base authentication score, effective only for the current useractivity session, based on user activities and external events. Thedynamic authentication score may depend on a type of user device used toaccess the integrated insurance system 108. A less secure device (e.g.,a mobile phone) results in a lower dynamic authentication score than amore secure device (e.g., a desktop computer). The dynamicauthentication depends on the particular credentials supplied by theuser, from among the potentially larger number of credentialsestablished by the user, to login during the current activity session.Further, the dynamic authentication score may depend on an IP addressused to access the integrated insurance system 108 relative to a historyof IP address use. In some embodiments, the overall user authenticationscore during an activity session is represented as the sum of the baseauthentication score and the dynamic authentication score, i.e.,

authentication score=base authentication score+dynamic authenticationscore.

Next, the security module 520 waits (step 915) for one of a number ofpredetermined events to Occur.

Upon receiving a user request to increase a set of access rights for agiven computerized insurance service (step 920), the security module 520modifies either the base or the dynamic authentication score. Inparticular, the security module 520 determines if the request for accessrights is for a temporary increase in the access rights (step 953). Ifso, the security module 520 modifies the dynamic authentication score(step 965). Otherwise, the secure module 520 modifies the baseauthentication score (step 960). The security module then returns to thewait state (915) for one of the predetermined number of events to againoccur (i.e., at steps 920, 925, 930, 935, and 940) during the currentactivity session.

Upon receiving a user request to change access settings via the MySecurity utility 529 (step 925), the security module 520 modifies thebase authentication score. For example, a user may wish to permanentlyestablish additional security credentials using the My Security utility529. If the additional security credentials are properly established,the security module 520 would increase the base authentication scoreaccordingly. On the other hand, if the attempt to establish additionalsecurity credentials fails (e.g., a user fails to follow through with avisit to a third-party testing facility for identity verification), thesecurity module 520 would decrease the base authentication score. Thesecurity module then returns to the wait state (915) for one of thepredetermined number of events to again occur (i.e., at steps 920, 925,930, 935, and 940) during the current activity session.

Upon receiving a user request to change settings via the My Profileutility (step 930), the security module 520 modifies the baseauthentication score. For example, a user may elect to change accountdelivery preferences from e-mail to traditional paper delivery. Incertain embodiments, the security module 520 would lower a baseauthentication score in response since paper is typically less secure,and results in an increased chance of account exposure to unwanted thirdparties, compared to e-mail delivery. The security module then returnsto the wait state (915) for one of the predetermined number of events toagain occur (i.e., at steps 920, 925, 930, 935, and 940) during thecurrent activity session.

Upon detecting a predetermined non-user action (step 935), the securitymodule 520 modifies either the base or the dynamic authentication score.As an illustrative example, after a user has logged in to the integratedinsurance system 108, the integrated insurance system 108 mayadditionally detect another attempt to login using the user identity(e.g., from an unfamiliar IP address). In this case, the security modulewould significantly reduce the base authentication score associated withthe user identity. Security module 520 is also capable of modifying thedynamic authentication score associated upon detecting one of apredetermined number of non-user actions. For example, if the securitymodule 520 detects a user IP address dynamically changing to a new IPaddress (for example, due to the user roaming on a mobile device), thesecurity module 520 may increase the dynamic authentication score. Thesecurity module then returns to the wait state (915) for one of thepredetermined number of events to again occur (i.e., at steps 920, 925,930, 935, and 940) during the current activity session.

Upon waiting a predetermined amount of time since a user activity (step940), the security module 520 modifies the dynamic authentication score.For example, the predetermined amount of time may correspond to 10minutes. Thus, whenever 10 minutes elapses without user activity, thedynamic authentication score is decreased. The security module thenreturns to the wait state (915) for one of the predetermined number ofevents to again occur (i.e., at steps 920, 925, 930, 935, and 940)during the current activity session.

An administrator of the integrated insurance system 108 may makeschanges, directly or indirectly, to the user authentication score whenthe user is offline. Upon receiving user administrative changes (step950), the security module 520 modifies the base authentication score. Asan example, a customer of the insurance company may call to inform theinsurance company that his home was recently burglarized or that he wasa victim of identity theft in some other (non-insurance) context, anemployee of the insurance company may manually adjust the baseauthentication score to reflect this fact. Administrative changes may beentered using company terminals 122. In some embodiments, the companyterminals execute computer software that allows an administrator todirectly adjust an authentication score for a user identity andcorresponding role(s). In other embodiments, the administrator specifiesa set of access rights or a desired modification of the set of accessrights and the integrated insurance system 108 automatically determinesa suitable adjustment to the authentication score for the user identityand the corresponding role(s).

The security module 520 may automatically make off-line changes,directly or indirectly, to the user authentication score (step 955). Forexample, the integrated insurance system 108 may automatically detectthat the user identity of a family member of a given user has beencompromised through the means described above. In this case, thesecurity module 520 may lower the base authentication score for all useridentities belonging to individuals living in the same household.

In some embodiments, rather than use a variable authentication score,the threshold authentication score values described in this disclosureare variable with respect to events that occur after a user activitysession begins.

Although the base authentication score and dynamic authentication scoreare described throughout the disclosure primarily as positive integervalues, it would be understood by one of ordinary skill that the baseauthentication score and/or the dynamic authentication score may berepresented using other techniques. For example, the base authenticationscore and dynamic authentication score may also be represented aspercentage values (e.g., between 0 and 100 percent), by using a finitenumber of authentication levels (i.e., where each level is aquantitative or qualitative value), by any other discrete or continuousvalued parameter, as a tranche value (e.g., the top 5%, 10%, or 20% ofauthentication scores across all accounts registered with the front-endcomputing system 109), or by any suitable combination of these and otherrepresentations.

FIG. 10 depicts illustrative data structures for storing profile,security, and other information for user accounts according to anillustrative embodiment of the invention. Specifically, data structure1000 illustrates the storage of user identities and the correspondingcomputerized insurance services used by those user identities, whiledata structure 1050 illustrates the storage of profile, security, role,and other information for a given user identity and computerizedinsurance service. The data structures 1000 and 1050 represent thelogical storage of data and the data may itself be stored on anyappropriate storage medium using storage techniques that would beunderstood by those of ordinary skill.

Data structure 1000 illustrates the storage of user identities and thecorresponding computerized insurance services used by those useridentities. In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates the storage of three useridentities and variables indicating the registered insurance servicesfor each of these user identities. As illustrated, the user identityJoel_Smith_(—)123 has access to (denoted by the symbol “x”) property,business, and annuity investment services, but does not have access to(denoted by the symbol “-”) life or vehicle insurance services.Similarly, the user identity Adam_Jones_(—)425 has access to life,vehicle, and business insurance services, but does not have access toproperty or annuity investment services. Additionally, the user identityMary_Molita_(—)322 has access to property, business, and annuityinvestment services, but does not have access to life or vehicleinsurance services. Further, although not shown in FIG. 10, the datastructure 100 stores information on whether the user identities ofJoel_Smith_(—)123, Adam_Jones_(—)425, and Mary_Molita_(—)322 areregistered for additional insurance services (denoted by the ellipses)and stores information on additional user identities. In someembodiments, the elements of the data structure 1000 (i.e., denoted by“x” or “-”) are implemented as a binary-valued variables. In someembodiments, a user identity is considered to have access to a giveninsurance service if at least one role associated with the user identityhas access to the computerized insurance service based on the baseauthentication score of that role.

Data structure 1050 illustrates the storage of profile, security, role,and other information for a given user identity and a given computerizedinsurance service from the computerized insurance services 102. Inparticular, data structure 1050 illustrates the storage of informationrelated to Joel_Smith_(—)123's access to annuity investments. Asillustrated in FIG. 10, Joel_Smith_(—)123 is affiliated with the annuityinvestment service through a “personal” role and a “beneficiary” role.Some of the information stored in connection with the personal role isdisplayed in row 1060 and some of the information stored in connectionwith the beneficiary role is displayed in row 1070. For example, row1060 indicates the storage of, in addition to the role, a policy ID, thebase authentication score for the role, and a minimum authenticationscore required to access a corresponding annuity investment service(i.e., the annuity investment service).

Further, row 1060 indicates the storage of an enhanced authenticationscore, which indicates an authentication score required for access toone or more enhanced access rights within the annuity investmentservice. For example, the enhanced authentication score may indicate ascore required to withdraw funds from the annuity and to changebeneficiary information associated with the annuity. As another example,for a life insurance computerized insurance service, the enhancedauthentication score may indicate a score required to modify coverageamounts and file a claim online using the life insurance service.Further, row 1060 indicates the storage of delivery preferences 1080associated with the user identity Joel_Smith_(—)123 with the annuityinvestment service in the role of “personal” and in connection withpolicy ID 1754364.

Although not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 10, more than one policy IDmay be associated with a given user identity and role. For example, JoelSmith may be a beneficiary with respect to the annuity investmentservice on a second policy in addition to the policy having an ID of1754364, which is depicted in data structure 1050. Although notexplicitly shown in FIG. 10, data structure 1050 may store additionalinformation related to a given user identity, role, and policy ID. Forexample, sets of access rights associated with some or all of the baseauthentication score, minimum authentication score, and enhancedauthentication score may be stored by the data structure 1050.

In some embodiments, the data structure 1050 depends from the datastructure 1000 according to a nested implementation. For example, a datastructure of the form of the data structure 1050 may associated with,and stored in connection to, each element from the data structure 1000.In some embodiments, the data structures 1000 and 1050 are stored usinga linked-list hierarchical structure. In some implementations, the datastructures 1000 and 1050 are stored using a three-dimensionalmatrix-type implementation structure, where a given entry of atwo-dimensional matrix representing the data structure 1000 stores theinformation corresponding to the data structure 1050.

FIG. 10 depicts data structures for the purposes of illustration, andnot limitation. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill,profile, security, and other information for user accounts may be storedusing suitable permutations of the data described in relation to thedata structures 1000 and 1050. Further, some of the data illustrated inconnection with one of these data structures may be stored in other datastructures without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Global accounts for the front-end computing system 109 have beendescribed in the disclosure herein primarily as follows. Each user ofthe front-end computing system 109 is assigned a unique user identity,which may then be associated with one or more roles. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill that the front-end computing system109 may be implemented using a different structure for the assignmentuser identities and roles to users. In some embodiments, a user of thefront-end computing system 109 is assigned a different user identity foreach role recognized by the front-end computing system 109. For example,a single user would have a different user identity for each of“claimant,” “personal,” and “business” roles with the front-endcomputing system 109. Further, the various user identities for a givenuser may be used with a single common set of established securitycredentials, or a different set of established security credentials maybe assigned to each user identity.

In some embodiments, each user of the front-end computing system 109 isassigned a unique user identity and the security credentials (e.g., apassword) provided during login determines which role is used when theuser logs in to the front-end computing system 109. For example, a user,Joel Smith, may be assigned a user identity of Joel_Smith_(—)123. JoelSmith may also be assigned two different passwords (or, more generally,two different sets of security credentials) corresponding to twodifferent roles (e.g., a “claimant” role and a “business” role). JoelSmith would then enter the password corresponding to the desired rolewhen logging in to the front-end computing system 109 for a givenactivity session. In some embodiments, the different roles for JoelSmith are linked. For example, Joel Smith may login using the “claimant”role and may be able to select the “business” role via the graphicaluser interface 300. Alternatively, the two roles may be distinct, andJoel Smith may be required to login with the password corresponding tothe “claimant” role to access the front-end computing system 109according to this role.

While preferable embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described herein, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill thatsuch embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilledin the art without departing from the invention. It should be understoodthat various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention describedherein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended thatthe following claims define the scope of the invention and that methodsand structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents becovered thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for processing a first-time registrationrequest for electronic access to a plurality of computerized insuranceservices operating on a plurality of disparate information platforms,the system comprising: a processor; a network interface configured to:communicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services byinterfacing with the plurality of disparate information platforms, andcommunicate with a user computing device located remotely to the systemand the plurality of computerized insurance services, and a memorystoring a portal module, a profile module, and a security module, eachin the form of computer executable instructions, which, when executed bythe processor, cause the system to: receive, via execution of the portalmodule by the processor, a user identity, a first-time registrationrequest of the user identity, and one or more secure information itemsassociated with the user identity from the user computing device,determine, via execution of the security module by the processor, averification score for the user identity based, at least in part, on theone or more secure information items, and selectively register, viaexecution of the user profile module by the processor, the user identitywith a plurality of the computerized insurance services based on theverification score.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to store, in the memory, the user identity, at least onerole associated with the user identity in relation to each of thecomputerized insurance services to which the user identity isregistered, the verification score, and an authentication score, theauthentication score based, at least in part, on the verification score.3. The system of claim 2, wherein the role associated with the useridentity is an insurance-related role selected from the group consistingof a personal role, a claimant role, a beneficiary role, an agent role,and a business role.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to store, in the memory, at least one document deliverypreference for each of the at least one role associated with the useridentity in relation to each of the computerized insurance services towhich the user identity is registered.
 5. The system of claim 4, whereinthe at least one document delivery preference comprises a documentdelivery preference for monthly statements and a document deliverypreference for a prospectus.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein thedocument delivery preference is selected from the group consisting ofe-mail delivery, paper delivery, and fax delivery.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of computerized insurance servicescomprises at least one non-property insurance service selected from thegroup consisting of a 401(k) retirement service and an annuityinvestment service.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first timeregistration request of the user identity is automatically routed to thesecurity module in response to a user attempt to login directly to oneof the plurality of computerized insurance services using a legacy loginaccount.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: prompt a user of the user computing device to provide theone or more secure information items after the system receives the useridentity and the first-time registration request.
 10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed bythe processor, further cause the processor to: determine a type ofsecure information for each of the one or more secure information itemsbased on information related to the user identity retrieved from one ormore of the plurality of computerized insurance services, and generate arequest for the one or more secure information items according to thedetermined types of secure information.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to: determine a type of secureinformation for each of the one or more secure information items basedon information related to the user identity retrieved from one or morepublic or private information databases maintained by a party other thana party that maintains the system, and generate a request for the one ormore secure information items according to the determined types ofsecure information.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: register the user identity only if the verificationscore exceeds a threshold value, wherein the registration of the useridentity comprises establishing one or more security credentials for theuser identity, and store the one or more security credentials, onceestablished, in a credentials database accessible by the securitymodule.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to determine a security credential type prior to establishingthe security credential, wherein the type is determined based, at leastin part, on the verification score.
 14. The system of claim 12, whereinestablishing one or more security credentials for the user identitycomprises providing a credential generation tool to a user associatedwith the user identity.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: determine, via a request sent from the user profilemodule to at least some of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices, if one or more legacy accounts exist associated with the useridentity, and merge or link, via the user profile module, the determinedone or more legacy accounts with the user identity prior to storing theuser identity in the user profile module.
 16. The system of claim 1,wherein: at least one of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices is implemented on a legacy information platform that isdirectly accessible by entering a corresponding Internet address into aweb browser, and at least one of the plurality of computerizedinformation services is implemented on a modern information platform andis accessible only through the portal module.
 17. The system of claim 1,wherein the portal module is communicatively coupled to a plurality ofInternet websites, wherein each of the Internet websites provides accessto one of the plurality of computerized insurance services.
 18. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the processor to: identify, viathe portal module, instructions received from a computerized insuranceservice that is maintained on a legacy information platform, translate,via the portal module, the received instructions into instructionsrecognized by a modern information platform on which the portal moduleis run, and generate, via the portal module, graphics instructions fordisplay of a website to a user associated with the user identity basedon the translated instructions.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein: theuser identity, once registered, is recognized by each of the pluralityof computerized insurance services, and the user identity is onlyentered a single time during a user activity session to provide accessat least two of the plurality of computerized insurance services. 20.The system of claim 1, wherein: the user identity, once registered, isrecognized by each of the plurality of computerized insurance services,and the computer executable instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to generate instructions forpre-populating at least one data field in one of the plurality ofcomputerized insurance services based on information stored in the userprofile module associated with the user identity.
 21. A method forprocessing a first-time registration request for electronic access to aplurality of computerized insurance services operating on a plurality ofdisparate information platforms, the method comprising: communicating,using a processor, with the plurality of computerized insurance servicesby interfacing with the plurality of disparate information platforms,communicating, using the processor, with a user computing device locatedremotely to the system and the plurality of computerized insuranceservices, and receiving, via execution of a portal module by theprocessor, a user identity, a first-time registration request of theuser identity, and one or more secure information items associated withthe user identity from the user computing device, determining, viaexecution of a security module by the processor, a verification scorefor the user identity based, at least in part, on the one or more secureinformation items, and selectively registering, via execution of a userprofile module by the processor, the user identity with a plurality ofthe computerized insurance services based on the verification score. 22.The method of claim 21, wherein the computer executable instructions,when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to store, inthe memory, the user identity, at least one role associated with theuser identity in relation to each of the computerized insurance servicesto which the user identity is registered, the verification score, and anauthentication score, the authentication score based, at least in part,on the verification score.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the firsttime registration request of the user identity is automatically routedto the security module in response to a user attempt to login directlyto one of the plurality of computerized insurance services using alegacy login account.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: prompt a user of the user computing device to providethe one or more secure information items after the system receives theuser identity and the first-time registration request.
 25. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed bythe processor, further cause the processor to: determine a type ofsecure information for each of the one or more secure information itemsbased on information related to the user identity retrieved from one ormore of the plurality of computerized insurance services, and generate arequest for the one or more secure information items according to thedetermined types of secure information.
 26. The method of claim 21,wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to: determine a type of secureinformation for each of the one or more secure information items basedon information related to the user identity retrieved from one or morepublic or private information databases maintained by a party other thana party that maintains the system, and generate a request for the one ormore secure information items according to the determined types ofsecure information.
 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: register the user identity only if the verificationscore exceeds a threshold value, wherein the registration of the useridentity comprises establishing one or more security credentials for theuser identity, and store the one or more security credentials, onceestablished, in a credentials database accessible by the securitymodule.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the computer executableinstructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to determine a security credential type prior to establishingthe security credential, wherein the type is determined based, at leastin part, on the verification score.
 29. The method of claim 27, whereinestablishing one or more security credentials for the user identitycomprises providing a credential generation tool to a user associatedwith the user identity.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to: determine, via a request sent from the user profilemodule to at least some of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices, if one or more legacy accounts exist associated with the useridentity, and merge or link, via the user profile module, the determinedone or more legacy accounts with the user identity prior to storing theuser identity in the user profile module.
 31. The method of claim 21,wherein: at least one of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices is implemented on a legacy information platform that isdirectly accessible by entering a corresponding Internet address into aweb browser, and at least one of the plurality of computerizedinformation services is implemented on a modern information platform andis accessible only through the portal module.
 32. The method of claim21, wherein the portal module is communicatively coupled to a pluralityof Internet websites, wherein each of the Internet websites providesaccess to one of the plurality of computerized insurance services. 33.The method of claim 21, wherein the computer executable instructions,when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:identify, via the portal module, instructions received from acomputerized insurance service that is maintained on a legacyinformation platform, translate, via the portal module, the receivedinstructions into instructions recognized by a modern informationplatform on which the portal module is run, and generate, via the portalmodule, graphics instructions for display of a website to a userassociated with the user identity based on the translated instructions.34. The method of claim 21, wherein: the user identity, once registered,is recognized by each of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices, and the user identity is only entered a single time during auser activity session to provide access at least two of the plurality ofcomputerized insurance services.
 35. The method of claim 21, wherein:the user identity, once registered, is recognized by each of theplurality of computerized insurance services, and the computerexecutable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causethe processor to generate instructions for pre-populating at least onedata field in one of the plurality of computerized insurance servicesbased on information stored in the user profile module associated withthe user identity.
 36. A system for processing a first-time registrationrequest for electronic access to a plurality of computerized insuranceservices operating on a plurality of disparate information platforms,the system comprising: a processor; a network interface configured to:communicate with the plurality of computerized insurance services byinterfacing with the plurality of disparate information platforms, andcommunicate with a user computing device located remotely to the systemand the plurality of computerized insurance services, and a memorystoring a portal module, a profile module, and a security module, eachin the form of computer executable instructions, which, when executed bythe processor, cause the system to: receive, via execution of the portalmodule by the processor, a first-time registration request of a useridentity; and in response to the first-time registration request:create, via execution of the security module by the processor, a globaluser account for the user identity; establish, via execution of thesecurity module by the processor, one or more security credentials forthe global user account; merge or link a legacy user account for one ofthe plurality of computerized insurance services with the global useraccount; and determine, via execution of the security module by theprocessor, a plurality of insurance-related roles for the user identityin relation to each of one or more computerized insurance servicesassociated with the global user account.
 37. The system of claim 36,wherein the plurality of insurance-related roles are determinedautomatically, without further user input, by sending queries, viaexecution of the profile module by the processor, for legacy accountinformation to at least some of the plurality of computerized insuranceservices.
 38. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality ofinsurance-related roles includes at least one role selected from thegroup consisting of a personal role, a claimant role, a beneficiaryrole, an agent role, and a business role.
 39. The system of claim 36,wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to: establish at least onesecurity credential for the global user account by importing thesecurity credential from either one of the plurality of computerizedinsurance services or from a trusted third-party business affiliate,wherein the imported security credential has been previously establishedby the user.
 40. The system of claim 36, wherein the plurality ofcomputerized insurance services comprises at least one non-propertyinsurance service selected from the group consisting of a 401(k)retirement service and an annuity investment service.